ABC NewsMail - afternoon edition

Afternoon Edition. Wed 04 Aug 2010
You are receiving this email because you are subscribed to ABC NewsMail. If you would like to change your preferences, please enter your email address and click 'Login' here.
Top Stories	More Top Stories >
McInnes breaks silence on misconduct claims Mark McInnes, the former chief executive of David Jones, says he rejects many of the specific sexual misconduct allegations contained in a statement of claim to the Federal Court. Gillard renews debate challenge Julia Gillard has renewed her debate challenge to Tony Abbott, saying she wants to go head-to-head with the Opposition Leader on economic issues next Monday night. Labor caves to private schools over funding: union No changes will be made to the way private schools are funded until at least 2014, the Federal Government has confirmed. Activists in rooftop protest at Qld Parliament There has been a security breach at Parliament House in Brisbane, with protesters getting through security to unfurl a large banner from the roof. Three dead in latest China school attack China has suffered yet another deadly attack on a kindergarten in which three children and a teacher were killed.
The Drum	More from The Drum >
Alannah and Tony touch up their inner idiots Why is it that the people whose opinions we don't much care for are the ones who are first to open their mouths and share them? In this spirit, perhaps fashion designer Alannah Hill and Opposition Leader Tony Abbott are wishing they'd kept their recent opinions to themselves. It's time we heard some real people, with something to say, provide us with something new. Is it still a democracy if your vote doesn't count? Our electoral system fails to represent the genuine proportion of popular opinion because the votes a party wins is not proportional to the seats won in parliament. The fact of geographic diversity in a single member electoral system also means many Australians who vote in safe electorates feel that their votes do not really count in the same way marginal seats do. This undermines the fundamental democratic ideal of one-vote, one-value. Election 2010: Standing on the shoulders of midgets Remember, when alone in that little booth on election day, a vote for a minor party may be pretty stupid, but it's never wasted. Gay marriage an irrelevant sideshow Using the Minister for Climate Change as a focus for gay marriage is as pointless as the m-word is irrelevant. Political activism is not dead Those who claim political activism is dead are simply looking in the wrong places.
World	More World Stories >
Three dead in latest China school attack At least three children have been killed in an attack on a kindergarten in eastern China, residents and a rights group said, in the latest in a series of assaults on schools nationwide. Indian company signs billion-dollar coal deal A Queensland mining company has announced the multi-billion-dollar sale of coal resources to an Indian company. Ground Zero mosque plans get go ahead A controversial plan to build a mosque just two blocks from Ground Zero in New York has cleared an important hurdle.
Science & Technology	More Science & Technology Stories >
Cloned beef made it to British shops British food safety officials say that meat from the offspring of a cloned cow entered the country's food chain last year. Historic Burke and Wills items on display Navigational equipment used by explorers Burke and Wills will go on public display today for the first time. Australian waters ranked most biologically diverse Australia's waters have been ranked as being the most biologically diverse in the world, yet up to 80 per cent of the species in it have yet to be discovered, a new study has shown.
Environment	More Environment Stories >
Wong challenges Joyce to water debate Federal Water Minister Penny Wong has challenged her Coalition counterpart Barnaby Joyce to a debate on water policy. Wangi Falls closed to swimming after croc caught Wangi Falls in the Litchfield National Park has been temporarily closed for swimming after a saltwater crocodile was caught in Wangi Creek yesterday. Activists in rooftop protest at Qld Parliament There has been a security breach at Parliament House in Brisbane, with protesters getting through security to unfurl a large banner from the roof.
To change your preferences, please enter your email address and click 'Login' here or to unsubscribe click here. © 2009 ABC | Privacy Policy This service may include material from Agence France-Presse (AFP), APTN, Reuters, CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced.